Buffer construction



` Feb. 3. l 9.25.

' G. A. LYON BUFFER vcoNsTRucfnoN Y Filed May 1o 1925 Patented Fein 13, 1925. I i i P'ATENT OFFICE.

i GEORGE ALBERT Lronor PHILADEPHIA, rnNnsYLvANIa1- i BUFFER CONSTRUCTION.

` .5" State .of'Pennsylvanian have made a certain newl and useful Invention Relating to Buffer Constructions, .of which the following 1s a specification, taken in lconnection with the accompanying drawing, winch forms part of` the same.

.:f'flhis invention relates to automobile buil"- ers .or bumpers, in which one.or more of the adjustably connected` buffer; front-elements Vmay adva'nta .eouslybe formed of relatlvely 15.'l wide-thin stee strip suciras spring steelone and three quarters to `two and one-half ineheswide and one-fourth to three-eighths of) an inch thick, more or less, which may be .cut or trimmed away at one or beth sidespf the. strip forsix to eight inches'more or less toform a narrowed connector portion which may.y only be one-fourth to one-half of the normalfwidthof the strip', so that thisconnector portion may be readily bent edgeefr.. wisc around` suitable forms when heated to forml an'integral connection for the adjacent parts lof the vertically ortransversely separated strip members which may thus be advantageously vertically orA transversely 30; aligned, if desired. A pair of such buer front elements may be rigidly connected so :is-to Aoverlap more orless adjacent the connecting or clampingdevices and may be latorally adjustable .where the width of the liuier front is to be adjusted. Such buffer elements may however. be use din other connections-as for se )ara'fe wings or for .supporting'elements or connection with bufier front elen'lents .if desired. It is usually de- 40" sirable to cut or trim away the connector portion of the strip element on the Outer side of its edgewise bent connector portion which eectively secures a somewhat greater transverse separation betweeny the. two connect- 1f5'iedtransversely-separated portions Or strip members, although in some cases the inner edgewise -bent part of the strip muy be preliminaril'y trimmed or cut away it desired. It=ris also possible to form distinct-ive de- 4 sign'- contigmations' by such trimming and 5:5. edge bending -m/ethods so that the buffer elements mayI given distinctiveand pleasing shapes at-th buier ends' as well as being securelyand integrallyconnected in this Application led May 10,

1923. Serial No. 637,933.

way. Any suitableiform of supporting 0rattaehing devices may be used in connection with the front strips or elements which may sometimes 'be in the form of a single strip having Voverlapped or Otherwise connected ends and having vertically separated portions joined by two such edgewise bent conneetor `portions 'at the' ends of the buffer front; and it is usually desirable to have supporting attaching members which may be clamped or connected lo both of the vertically Or-transve1sely separated strips adjacent the builer ends so as to give ample sup-- port to all of the parts of the butter front.

In the accompanying drawing showing in a somewhat diagrammatic way a number of illustrative embodiments 'of the invention- Fig. 1 is a front view 'of an illustrative butler.

Fig. 2 is a topview thereof.

Fig. 3 isa Adetail view showing a narrowed connector portion of the strip.

F ig'. 4 shows the corresponding edge bent connector portion and adjacent transversely' separated strips, and j Figs. 5 to 12, show other forms of blank and their corresponding edge bent connector portions.

In the buffer front shown in Figs. l and 2 two generally similar elementsmay be rigidly connected in laterally adjusted position. These elements may be formed of relatively wide thin steel strip and may each comprise two vertically separa-ted substantially horizontally extending front members or strips such as 1, 7. which maybe connected at the end o't' the front elenfient by an edgewise bent narrowed connector portion located 1n Vsubstantial verical alignment, if desired,

with the adj aeent portions of the' strips 3,' 7,v

which may be rearwardly inclined as shown in Fig. 2, or the whole buffer front may be forwardly arched or curved, if desired. The other' 4liront element may comprise a similar narrowed edgewise bentportion 5 integrally connectingr the adjacent portionsll, 12 of the strip which may be inwardly extended so as to Overlap the vertically spaced `strips of the otlier'eleinent at least adjacent` the clampingr or connecting devices such as 14. In each element one of the vertically spaced strips such as 12 may be relatively shorter so -that its end 13 extends slightly' past the end 2 of the longer strip of the other element whiledevice may be used comprising the the long lower 9 may have its end 10l l in somewhat overlapping ition above the end 8 of tlieshort strip' 7 o the cooperating buier front element. Any desired extendingbrace bar4 frame ends 20. Forbe. connected to the wardly curved portions such 'as 18,21, and

i 23 may g'ive ,a greater resilient yield to the supporting members which preferably have inturned connecting'portions 13, 15 to be clamped to the buffer 'front strips or preferably within a foot orso of the ends of the buffer front, preferably so as-to -overlap both the upper andlower vertically separated strips at the clam ing devices such as 14, to which they may connected by the clamping bolts 17. This arrangement provides several inches at least of Literal adjustment of the buffer front elements tosuit-V different width automobiles and the front strips may be rigidly connected in adjusted overlapping position so as to securely hold all of the buli'er parts under collision and running conditions.

As shown in Fig. l, the integral connector portions' may be edgewise bent and b v-preliminaiily cutting away the steel strip on the outer side of this edgeivise bend, the

bend is made very inucli more easily and` the ornamental curved or reduced portions 4, 6 may be formed adjacent the bent connector portionat the end 'of the buffer front element so as to give not only. a strong connection but a-pleasing and finished appearance to the buffer ends, the inner edges 58 of the adjacent strips being separated one to one and one-half inches or more. as de sired. One way in which this may be done .is illustrated in Figs. and 4 where the buffer front strip 1s shown as liaving'a curved or crescent sha edcutout portion 24 so as to form a consi erably narrowed connector portion 25 which may be. 'no niore than a third or a quarter of -the normal width of the strip in some cases. Then this part of the front strip or the entire length thereof, if desired, may be brought up to a good high bending heat and then the connector portion may bc bent around suitable forms, if desired, so as to' forni this edgeivise bent connector portion indicated in Fig. 4.

If desired, the edgewise bent connector portion may be in' substantial vertical align- `ment with the adjacent portions of the connected buffer front strips which may be ver-A tically separated and, if desired, rigidly held in substantial vertical] alignment adjacent the end of the element, the opening 26 between the adjacent edges of the vertically spaced strip'meinbers being made one to four inches. as desired. and the 4, 6. Another blank isshown in Fig. 5 as having a narrowed connector -portion 30 formed by the curved cnt outportion 28 which isinore nearly straight at t'lie ends ol'- 27, 31 f the thinwide strip. Thus when the narrowed connector iortion is edgewise bent by liot orlcold ben ing processes, this vthe cut 29 adjacentthe full width portions" narrowed connector portion 30 may' be bent into curved or circular form as in Fig. and be. joined by therelativcly straight in'- clined edges 29 with the 'adjacent full width ortions 27, '31 of these vertically separated uier strips. Of course these buffer elements which may .be'uscdf forbuf'fcr fronts or supporting elements, as desired, may advanta eoiisly be heat treated :is by oil quenc in and tempering at any suitable part of tie process, preferably at the saine eatas` used for bending and shaping the element where 'this additional strength and stiffness is desired. Many other distii'ictive and ornamental design configurations may be produced by such edge bending processes after cutting out one or both edges of the buffer strip adjacent the narrowed edge bent. connector portion, and Fig. 7shows one form of blank 1n which the connector-portion 36 may be. narrowed to about a quarter of the. noi-mal width of the buffer stri if desired, the cut out edge beingwforme with a gradually curving portion 35 joined b the curved reeesses 34,38 with the soinew iat angular'fpoiresilient tions 33, 39 adjacent tlic full widthparts of' the strip 32, 40. This -narrowed connector portion may be bent edgeivise around suitable forins, if desired, so as to foi-ni a distinctivelj7 sha'v d bnlier -end shown inAFig. 8, in which this narrowedconnector portion is edgewise bent into some-what arched forni with the rather elliptical inner and outer curved edges 37, 35 while the curved or an-l gular edges 33, 34 and' 38, 39 form cooperating projections more or less in line with these vertically separated upper and lower front strips 32, 40. Of course these projections maybc given other distinctive forms for specialpurposes and preferably the nai'- rowed connector portions of the steel strip may be blanked .out in cutting dies. of corresponding form so as to produce and more or` tion as 'by clamping or securely' connecting them to the supporting vstrips or other clampingA devices .within six -to sixteen buffer strips, es-

inches of .the edgcwise bent narrowed con- 'nector portion of the strip.

Fig. 9 shows another form of narrowed connector ortion in which -a semi-circular orround K projection46 may beleft adjacent the connectorl portion 44 where the* stripv is to be edgewise bent and curved pori tions or cut'edges 50 may join this mid'portion .of tlie narrowed connectorwith the full width portions 41, 49 of the wide fiat steel strip.' Such a .blank may; for instance, be Vedgevise'bexit as indicated in Fig. 10 so as if to give a.' considerably wider separation bewith two curve "tween the transversely separated strips 41,

49, the inner ed e of this bend being formed portions or inner edges 45,'- if desired, while a comparatively straight inner edgegis formed opposite the rounded edge proiec'tin 46 whic may forni'the end -of tlusbiitfer front element, if desired. The bending may produce the curved portions 42,43 and47,.48 of pleasing contour, the

blank being eut out so as to give these edee configurations ywith the articularbendingj heats andforins employe 11 shows a siinpler form of blank having one edge cut 'out tov form a narrowed connector portion where the clit out edge 53 Ais compara` tively-` stra-ight'and joined by the curves 54 with tlie adjacent full width parts of the Strip. After bending this,Y narrowed con-l nector portion edecwise preferably around suita'ble forms while' at least this part of the Istripis heated, substantially semi-circular curved edges may-'be formed on the inner edge 56 and the outer edge f2, 53. 5i of this connector portion 55, as shown 1n Fig. 12, .whicli ives a strong and pleasing integral f'connection to these buffer strips which may- Bie used tor buffer front elements with advantage. By suitably narrowing the blank preferably, but not necessarily. on the edge of the wide strip which torms the outside edge of the bent connector poi-tion` good stronOr bends having pleasing euri-'ed edges may tbe formed so as to secure transverse. separation between the adjacent edges of these connected bulfer strips ot no more than .an inch or an inch and ahalt.l itl desire-1l, for

special purposes.

This invention has been deseribedin connection with a number ot' embodiments, Vforms.A proportions. sizes. parts, arrange'- ments, materials` methods ot construction,

' connection and use, to the'details ot which disclosure the invention is not ot course to he limited, since what is claimed as new and .what is desired to be secured by Letters .Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

lelairml. Theautomobile buifer comprising a pair of Aadjustably connected elements toi-med of wide thin 'steel strip and each having verticallvspa'c'ed substantially vertically.l aligned horizontally extending por- 'tionsof different lengths and. an. integral edgewise bent narrowed connector portion 'at the end of the element, and steeljstrip sup rting membeis having laterallyl exten `ng inturned ends' rigidly secured to botlrvertically separated portions of said elements in overlappin position therewith adjacent the ends of t e'bi'itfer front and adaptedV to be securedto the automobile frame members. s 2. `The automobile butler comprising connected elements formed of wide thin steel strip and each having vertically spaced substantially vertically ali ned horizont-ally ex`` tending portions of di enentlengths land an e0 integral edgewise bent narrowed connector "J portion at the. end of the element, 'and steel' strip supporting members having laterally extending inturned ends rigidly secured-to both vertically .separated portions -o' said elements.

.13. The' automobile butter'. comprising af pair of adjustably. connected elements formed of widcthin steel'strip and each having vertically spaced horizontally ert-v tending portions and an integral edgewise bent narrowed connector portion at the end of 'tlieelement, and steel' strip supporting members yhaving laterally extending inturned end portions rigidly secured to both vertically sepa-rated portions of said elelaterally adjustablev rigidly connected ele I ine-nts formed of Wide thin steel strip and each having vertically spi-.ced horizontally extending portions and an integral edgeivise bent narrowed transverseconnector portion in substantial vertical alignment therewith and foinied b removing the outeredge of the steel'stri padjacent the edgewisc bend to forma narrowed port-ion less than `lialil the normal width ot the strip and a plu-- rality of supporting nienibcis toi-ined ot fiat steel strip and rigidly connected to said eleincnts-iuljacent the ends` ot' the butier front.

The automobile buti'er comprising two laterally adjust-able rigidly connected elements formed of wide'lthin steel strip and lill each having verticali)Y spaced horizontallyy extending portions and an .integral edgej wise bent narrowed. transverse connector portion in substantial vertical alignment therewith land supporting members :formedA of fiat steel strip and rigidly connected to' said elements adjacent theends of the buffer front. Y

7. Tlie'automobile bufei-.comprising two 'connected elements formed of wide thin steel strip and each having vertically spaced horizontally extending portions and an integral edgeivise benty narrowed transverse Asteel strip and each having vertically spaced portions and an integral cdg'ewisel lient narrowed transverse connector portion and supporting members connected to said elements adjacent the ends of the bufl'er front.

9. The aiitoiiiobile'buii'er lformed of wide tliinsteel strip and comprising vertically spaced horizontally extending portions and an integral edgewise bent narrowed connector portion of the strip -at eac-li end of the buffer front holding the adjacent vertically displaced portions. in substantially vertically aligned position4 and a pluralit of supporting members connected to boti. the upper and lower front strips adjacent the opposite ends of the bul'er vfront and adapted to be secured to the automobile frame members. j

10. The automobile buffer formed of wide.

thin steel strip and comprising Ivertically spaced horizontally extending portions and an integral edgewise bent narrowed connector portion of the strip at each end of the buffer front and supporting members connected to the front strips adjacent the opposite ends of the butter front and adapted to be secured to the automobile frame members.

11. The automobile buffer front formed of wide thin steel strip'and comprising vertically' spaced horizontally extending poi'- tionsand an integral edgewise bent. narrowed connector portion of the strip not more than haltl the -norinal strip Width at cach end of the butler front holding the.

edgewise bent narrowed transverse connector portion in substantial vertical alignment -i therewith and formed by removing the outer:

edge of the steel strip adjacent 'tlieedgeiiigvt-wo rigidly connected elements formed of wide thin steel strip and each having vertically spaced portions and an integral edgewise bent narrowed vtransverse connector portion in substantial vertical alignment` therewith.

15.- The automobile butter front formed of widesteelstrp and comprising vertically spaced portions and an integral edgewis'e bent narrowed connector portion of the strip at each end of the bui'er front holding the adjacent vertically spaced portions in substantially vertically ali ncd position.

16. The automobile uffer, front formed of wide steel strip and comprising vertically spaced portions and an integral edgewisc bent narrowed Aconnector portion of the sti-ip at each cud of the buffer front.

17. The automobile buffer front element formed of wide thin steel strip and comprirslng vertically spaced horizontally extendingport-ions and an integral edgeivise bentconnec-tor portion of the strip foi-ined by 'removing the outer edge portions otthe strip adjacent the edgewise bend to form a narrowed portion'. less than half the normal Width of the strip, holding thel adjacent vertically spacedl portions in substantially vertically aligned osition.

. 18. The antonio ile butter front clement formed of wide thin steel strip and comprising vertically s aced horizontally extending portions an an integral edgewise bent connector portion of the strip foi-ined by removing edge ortions of the strip adjacent the edgewise liend to form a narrowed portion holding the adjacent veitically spaced portions in substantiallyvertically aligned position.

A19. The automobile butler' frontelement formed of wide t-liin steel strip and compri's-ing transversely spaced horizontally cxl tending portions andan integral edgewise bent connector portion of the strip formed by removii`i`g the outer edge portion of the strip adjacent the edgewise bend to forma narrowed portion less than halt' the normal Width of the strip holding the adjacent transversely dis laced portions in substantially transverse y aligned position.

20. The automobile buffer front element formed of wide thin steel strip and comprising transversely spaced portions and an integral edgewise bent connector portion of the strip formed by removing the outer edgeportion of. the -st-rip adjacent the edgewise bend tov form a narrowed portion holding the adjacent transversely Aspaced portions in 'Ill loo

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substantially transversely aligned position. 21. The automobile buffer element formed `of .Wide lthin steel strip and comprising transversely spaced portions and an integral .i4 edgewlse bent connector portion of the strip formed by removing the edge portion of the `strip adjacent the edgewise bend to form` a narrowed portion 'holding the adjacent transversely spaced portions in substantially ltransversely aligned position 2Q. The automobile buffer element -ormed of wide thin steel strip and coniprising 'transversely spaced portions and an integral 

